Israel doesnt give a crap about some worthless UN declaration. There is no such thing as "Palestine" and Israel is not going to cede land to a bunch of terrorist scumbags. They just struck a weapons convoy inside Syria, you think they are worried about some UN report? They arent. Long live Israel!!!

This is very long - I'll just give you a snip. They tried to publish this in US but had to go to England ...THE ISRAEL LOBBY AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY

John J. Mearsheimer University of Chicago

Stephen M. Walt Harvard University

March 2006 RWP06&#8208;011

An edited and reworked version of this paper was published in the London Review of Books Vol. 28, No. 6 (March 23, 2006), and is available online at www.lrb.co.uk

THE ISRAEL LOBBY AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY

The U.S. national interest should be the primary object of American foreign policy. For the past several decades, however, and especially since the Six Day War in 1967, the centerpiece of U.S. Middle East policy has been its relationship with Israel. The combination of unwavering U.S. support for Israel and the related effort to spread democracy throughout the region has inflamed Arab and Islamic opinion and jeopardized U.S. security.

This situation has no equal in American political history. Why has the United States been willing to set aside its own security in order to advance the interests of another state? One might assume that the bond between the two countries is based on shared strategic interests or compelling moral imperatives. As we show below, however, neither of those explanations can account for the remarkable level of material and diplomatic support that the United States provides to Israel.

Instead, the overall thrust of U.S. policy in the region is due almost entirely to U.S. domestic politics, and especially to the activities of the “Israel Lobby.” Other special interest groups have managed to skew U.S. foreign policy in directions they favored, but no lobby has managed to divert U.S. foreign policy as far from what the American national interest would otherwise suggest, while simultaneously convincing Americans that U.S. and Israeli interests are essentially identical.1

In the pages that follow, we describe how the Lobby has accomplished this feat, and how its activities have shaped America’s actions in this critical region. Given the strategic importance of the Middle East and its potential impact on others, both Americans and non&#8208;Americans need to understand and address the Lobby’s influence on U.S. policy.

Some readers will find this analysis disturbing, but the facts recounted here are not in serious dispute among scholars. Indeed, our account relies heavily on the work of Israeli scholars and journalists, who deserve great credit for shedding light on these issues. THE GREAT BENEFACTOR

Since the October War in 1973, Washington has provided Israel with a level of support dwarfing the amounts provided to any other state. It has been the largest annual recipient of direct U.S. economic and military assistance since 1976 and the largest total recipient since World War II. Total direct U.S. aid to Israel amounts to well over $140 billion in 2003 dollars.2 Israel receives about $3 billion in direct foreign assistance each year, which is roughly one&#8208;fifth of America’s foreign aid budget. In per capita terms, the United States gives each Israeli a

direct subsidy worth about $500 per year.3 This largesse is especially striking when one realizes that Israel is now a wealthy industrial state with a per capita income roughly equal to South Korea or Spain.4 ....

....This extraordinary generosity might be understandable if Israel were a vital strategic asset or if there were a compelling moral case for sustained U.S. backing. But neither rationale is convincing.

THE ISRAEL LOBBY AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICYJohn J. MearsheimerUniversity of ChicagoStephen M. WaltHarvard UniversityMarch 2006RWP06&#8208;011An edited and reworked version of this paper was published in the London ReviewofBooks Vol. 28, No. 6 (March 23, 2006), and is available online at www.lrb.co.ukTHE ISRAEL LOBBY AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICYThe U.S. national interest should be the primary object of American foreignpolicy. For the past several decades, however, and especially since the Six Day War in 1967, the centerpiece of U.S. Middle East policy has been its relationshipwith Israel. The combination of unwavering U.S. support for Israel and therelated effort to spread democracy throughout the region has inflamed Arab andIslamic opinion and jeopardized U.S. security.This situation has no equal in American political history. Why has the UnitedStates been willing to set aside its own security in order to advance the interests of another state? One might assume that the bond between the two countries isbased on shared strategic interests or compelling moral imperatives. As weshow below, however, neither of those explanations can account for theremarkable level of material and diplomatic support that the United Statesprovides to Israel.Instead, the overall thrust of U.S. policy in the region is due almost entirelyto U.S. domestic politics, and especially to the activities of the “Israel Lobby.”Other special interest groups have managed to skew U.S. foreign policy in directionsthey favored, but no lobby has managed to divert U.S. foreign policy as far fromwhat the American national interest would otherwise suggest, whilesimultaneously convincing Americans that U.S. and Israeli interests areessentially identical.1In the pages that follow, we describe how the Lobby has accomplished this feat,and how its activities have shaped America’s actions in this critical region.Given the strategic importance of the Middle East and its potential impact onothers, both Americans and non&#8208;Americans need to understand and address theLobby’s influence on U.S. policy.Some readers will find this analysis disturbing, but the facts recounted here are not in serious dispute among scholars. Indeed, our account relies heavily on thework of Israeli scholars and journalists, who deserve great credit for sheddinglight on these issues.THE GREAT BENEFACTORSince the October War in 1973, Washington has provided Israel with a level ofsupport dwarfing the amounts provided to any other state. It has been thelargest annual recipient of direct U.S. economic and military assistance since 1976and the largest total recipient since World War II. Total direct U.S. aid to Israelamounts to well over $140 billion in 2003 dollars.2 Israel receives about $3 billionin direct foreign assistance each year, which is roughly one&#8208;fifth of America’sforeign aid budget. In per capita terms, the United States gives each Israeli adirect subsidy worth about $500 per year.3 This largesse is especially strikingwhen one realizes that Israel is now a wealthy industrial state with a per capitaincome roughly equal to South Korea or Spain.4 ........This extraordinary generosity might be understandable if Israel were a vitalstrategic asset or if there were a compelling moral case for sustained U.S.backing. But neither rationale is convincing.A STRATEGIC LIABILITY ..... MUCH MORE ...

I think I will leave our security to our military leaders who know Israels strategic importance to our country. We have many "armchair generals" who think they know what is best, yet they have no inside knowledge and usually no military experience. That so called "study" is anti-Semite "wanna be general" nonsense.

I think I will leave our security to our military leaders who know Israels strategic importance to our country. We have many "armchair generals" who think they know what is best, yet they have no inside knowledge and usually no military experience. That so called "study" is anti-Semite "wanna be general" nonsense.

Yes it is lucky for us the politicians make policy and not the Generals you WANT to leave policy up to. And soon after this study the policy HAS changed. I LOVE proof. Quote me some "anti-semite" paragraph or even sentence from that study? Just a little quote to see you have a clue?

<quoted text>This is very long - I'll just give you a snip. They tried to publish this in US but had to go to England ...THE ISRAEL LOBBY AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICYJohn J. MearsheimerUniversity of ChicagoStephen M. WaltHarvard UniversityMarch 2006RWP06&#8208;011An edited and reworked version of this paper was published in the London ReviewofBooks Vol. 28, No. 6 (March 23, 2006), and is available online at www.lrb.co.ukTHE ISRAEL LOBBY AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICYThe U.S. national interest should be the primary object of American foreignpolicy. For the past several decades, however, and especially since the Six Day War in 1967, the centerpiece of U.S. Middle East policy has been its relationshipwith Israel. The combination of unwavering U.S. support for Israel and therelated effort to spread democracy throughout the region has inflamed Arab andIslamic opinion and jeopardized U.S. security.This situation has no equal in American political history. Why has the UnitedStates been willing to set aside its own security in order to advance the interests of another state? One might assume that the bond between the two countries isbased on shared strategic interests or compelling moral imperatives. As weshow below, however, neither of those explanations can account for theremarkable level of material and diplomatic support that the United Statesprovides to Israel.Instead, the overall thrust of U.S. policy in the region is due almost entirelyto U.S. domestic politics, and especially to the activities of the “Israel Lobby.”Other special interest groups have managed to skew U.S. foreign policy in directionsthey favored, but no lobby has managed to divert U.S. foreign policy as far fromwhat the American national interest would otherwise suggest, whilesimultaneously convincing Americans that U.S. and Israeli interests areessentially identical.1In the pages that follow, we describe how the Lobby has accomplished this feat,and how its activities have shaped America’s actions in this critical region.Given the strategic importance of the Middle East and its potential impact onothers, both Americans and non&#8208;Americans need to understand and address theLobby’s influence on U.S. policy.Some readers will find this analysis disturbing, but the facts recounted here are not in serious dispute among scholars. Indeed, our account relies heavily on thework of Israeli scholars and journalists, who deserve great credit for sheddinglight on these issues.THE GREAT BENEFACTORSince the October War in 1973, Washington has provided Israel with a level ofsupport dwarfing the amounts provided to any other state. It has been thelargest annual recipient of direct U.S. economic and military assistance since 1976and the largest total recipient since World War II. Total direct U.S. aid to Israelamounts to well over $140 billion in 2003 dollars.2 Israel receives about $3 billionin direct foreign assistance each year, which is roughly one&#8208;fifth of America’sforeign aid budget. In per capita terms, the United States gives each Israeli adirect subsidy worth about $500 per year.3 This largesse is especially strikingwhen one realizes that Israel is now a wealthy industrial state with a per capitaincome roughly equal to South Korea or Spain.4 ........This extraordinary generosity might be understandable if Israel were a vitalstrategic asset or if there were a compelling moral case for sustained U.S.backing. But neither rationale is convincing.A STRATEGIC LIABILITY ..... MUCH MORE ...

lol i love the terms "spreading democracy" and "compelling moral imperatives" how sick.

I think I will leave our security to our military leaders who know Israels strategic importance to our country. We have many "armchair generals" who think they know what is best, yet they have no inside knowledge and usually no military experience. That so called "study" is anti-Semite "wanna be general" nonsense.

<quoted text>you're stupid! ahaha! you don't know anything, especially about US foreign policy/military.antisemitism means hating on people(jews) based on their ethnicity or religious beliefs. Israel is not a person or group of people. it is a nation state and can be hated without antisemitic notions.

Yep - the article was on loving America !!!!You know since the 1960 just about the only terrorism I can find (Arafat - plane hijackings, Lebanon Barracks, 911 etc etc etc) against the USA has often been as a protest against Palestine treatment (in part). We didn't have the IRA, the Red Brigade -- how many TRILLIONS have we spent on JUST THE USAs' security for terrorism. Frankly my money could be put to better things?

<quoted text>Yep - the article was on loving America !!!!You know since the 1960 just about the only terrorism I can find (Arafat - plane hijackings, Lebanon Barracks, 911 etc etc etc) against the USA has often been as a protest against Palestine treatment (in part). We didn't have the IRA, the Red Brigade -- how many TRILLIONS have we spent on JUST THE USAs' security for terrorism. Frankly my money could be put to better things?

yeah...education or health care or solving poverty/world hunger, alas, it is going into the pockets of some bourgeois a-holes.

have you read any Chomsky on the USA and terrorism? it's all nonsense. the USA has been using the term to manipulate the american citizens into passively accepting this "war on terror" and the slaughtering of people in the Middle East.

Horsesh!t,let's call it the way it is. It's the religious right. See the belief is that when God returns to earth he will touch down in Israel and the jews want the entire territory to be under the flag of his 'chosen people'. The religious fools are mostly in the southern bible belt. The crooked politicians have jumped on the bandwagon strictly to get the bible belt votes. In other words they have sold us out in order to keep their fat cat jobs.

Tell me when this thread is updated:

Add your comments below

Please note by submitting this form you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Service and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite.
Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator. Send us your feedback.